Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many points have been covered. When one looks at the reality of the oversupply to the meat factories, the stark economic reality for farmers is that we cannot look to curtail markets, rather we have to ramp up live exports and find new markets. That is brought into sharp focus by figures provided by Bord Bia which show 40,000 extra calves in the dairy herd. Last year there was an increase of 60,000 in live exports. I understand from people in the business that we need to look at an increase of 100,000 to ensure that farmers who supply to factories at the moment have an alternative and do not go out of business. Things are pretty dismal in that regard. The question of markets in which there have been increases has been covered but is there further scope? What are the Department's projections for increased exports? Where might we realistically see new markets and increases in existing markets to take up that glut of animals that are in our own market at the moment and that need to be moved on?

My other question is about Northern Ireland. Cattle that have Irish tags are going into factories in the North and people are being paid less for them solely on that basis. Are steps being taken to address that issue? What is the situation as regards Irish cattle being brought to Northern Ireland?